Compare towns
Hancock vs Ripton vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hancock | Ripton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
508Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Ripton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
— | $900±$336Lowest 27% below VT |
| Hancock and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.